Mechanical Engineers pay range in Rapid City
New workers and the lowest-paid 10% earn about $70,590 a year or less, while the top 10% make $136,640 or more. The middle half of mechanical engineers in Rapid City earn between $81,370 and $106,920.
- $71K10th
- $81K25th
- $94KMedian
- $107K75th
- $137K90th
median average · bar = middle 50% of workers · how to read it
| Pay level | Per year | Per month | Per hour* |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average | $100,000 | $8,333 | $48.08 |
| Median | $94,180 | $7,848 | $45.28 |
| Entry level (25th percentile) | $81,370 | $6,781 | $39.12 |
| Experienced (75th percentile) | $106,920 | $8,910 | $51.40 |
*Hourly figures assume 2,080 paid hours a year. Hourly to annual salary.
Mechanical Engineers pay in Rapid City vs. South Dakota and the U.S.
Mechanical engineers in Rapid City earn 5% more than the South Dakota average ($95,080) and 12% less than the U.S. average ($113,610). At the median the gap is -10% against the U.S. median of $104,110.
| Area | Average | Median | 10th pct. | 90th pct. | Jobs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rapid City | $100,000 | $94,180 | $70,590 | $136,640 | 140 |
| South Dakota | $95,080 | $88,380 | $65,130 | $134,140 | 560 |
| United States | $113,610 | $104,110 | $73,990 | $164,340 | 296,810 |
State and U.S. rows: BLS statewide and national estimates, May 2025, which include rural areas.
Mechanical Engineers salary after taxes in Rapid City
On the average salary of $100,000, a single filer in Rapid City takes home about $79,180 a year, or $6,598 a month and $3,045 every two weeks. Taxes take 21% of gross pay.
Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
Is Rapid City a good place for mechanical engineers? Pay vs. cost of living
Prices in the Rapid City area are 11% below the U.S. average (BEA price parity 89.2), so the average $100,000 buys what about $112,158 would buy in a typical U.S. metro. This job pays 2.0 times the median wage of all jobs in Rapid City ($46,270). A typical home costs $374,117, or 3.7 years of this average salary before tax.
Mechanical Engineers salary in other South Dakota cities
Rapid City ranks 1st of 2 South Dakota metro areas for this job, the best-paid in the state.
- Rapid City$100,000
- Sioux Falls$92,860
Highest-paying cities for mechanical engineers
San Jose, CA pays this job the most of the metro areas we cover ($165,920).
- San Jose, CA$165,920
- San Francisco, CA$158,690
- Santa Cruz, CA$139,810
- Augusta, GA$137,040
- Baton Rouge, LA$136,970
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Mechanical Engineers salary in Rapid City: questions
How much do mechanical engineers make an hour in Rapid City?
$48.08 an hour on average, and $45.28 at the median (BLS, May 2025).
What is the entry-level mechanical engineers salary in Rapid City?
The lowest-paid 10% earn about $70,590 a year and the 25th percentile is $81,370, a fair guide to starting pay.
What is the mechanical engineers take-home pay in Rapid City?
About $79,180 a year ($6,598 a month) for a single filer on the average salary of $100,000. South Dakota has no state income tax.
Do mechanical engineers earn more in Rapid City than elsewhere?
The average here is 12% less than the U.S. average for this job ($113,610).
Sources and how to read this page
- Wages: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), May 2025 estimates for metropolitan areas. SOC code 17-2141; area Rapid City, SD (39660). Relative standard error of the mean wage: 5.4%.
- U.S. and statewide figures: BLS OEWS national and state estimates, May 2025, every employer including rural areas.
- Cost of living: Bureau of Economic Analysis regional price parities (RPP), 2024; 100 = U.S. average.
- Home value: Zillow Home Value Index. Typical-wage figure: OEWS all occupations, same metro.
- Take-home pay: Single filer, standard deduction: federal income tax (2026 brackets), Social Security, Medicare and no state income tax.
- Job concentration: location quotient 1.02, this job is about as common as in the U.S. overall.
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